Thursday, February 23, 2012

Why Yes, You Do Want to be a Part of This

As
I was driving home from work today, I was thinking about life. I know
that you are scared to read on now because
you’re worried this post will be heavy and you just wanted some light reading
material in between pinning and tweeting and posting and all that other
nonsense. But
you’re in luck! This is simply a sharing post that will not require
you in any way to change your life or even consider a new thought unless you so choose. Hoorah!So my wandering mind asked me this today: What have you learned about being an adult
since graduating college and getting married and paying bills and
researching insurance and learning to cook and... well, you get the
idea.One
thing I have learned is the regrettable reality that are utility bills.
Every other bill comes faithfully and I know how much it will be and
it has been budgeted for and I wave sadly as the money floats away.
Utility bills, however, are much sneakier than your average bill. They
hide around in the mild fall and spring months, and then summer or
winter comes and BAM! POW! and all those other words that belong in a spiky bubble, they got
you again. When I was in college, it was a common sight for people to
have their apartment windows wide open in January (yes, in Chicago)
because the heat was unbearable and we didn’t have to pay the bill, so
who cares? Those days are sadly behind me, as I have been duped by the
utility monster many times now. In case you were wondering, I believe
he looks something like this:

Another
thing I have learned is that it is hard to make friends after college.
Holy cow is it hard. I am used to living in community, being able to
call up several classmates to "study" with, trotting along to say hello to
a friend, or running into people at the Starbucks across the street.
But now I live with a boy (cue scary music). And said boy and myself live in an apartment
where our neighbors don’t pop in for chats or invite us over for their
Christmas Cookie Exchange. We have to be intentional, and guess
what I learned about myself? I’m no good at that! Ha! (That was
sarcastic, I did not really laugh.) And for you meanies who just
thought to yourself that I’m simply socially inept, you are wrong I tell
you! Almost every single one of my friends has expressed this exact
same feeling. It’s sad, yo.The
last deep meaningful discovery I wish to impart this evening is that
all those grown-up, responsible events and such haven’t actually changed
me. It’s like the eve of your twelfth birthday when you’re so sure
that your life is about to change tomorrow because you’re going to
finally be a teenager, whoa x 3. But then you go through the whole day
and at the end of it your mom asks if you feel any different, and you
don’t. I still want to have dance parties and bake inappropriate
cupcakes and sing at the top of my lungs and twist my face into every
possible emotion. See small sample here:

It’s just that while I sing, I also have to write a check. And while I dance around my living room, I sometimes have to
shut the blinds because now I have neighbors who do not appreciate the
art in my moves. But unlike that birthday-party-letdown feeling, I am
quite ok with it. I was awfully worried I was going to have to
carry a briefcase and spout investment knowledge, or not laugh when
someone farts. (Is this even possible? Do older people just somehow
hide their giggles from us?)The
moral of the story is this: Fear not, my friends. Growing up, though
not all fun and games, totally can be if you want it to be. It’s just not quite as scary as it seemed. *whew*